Hey, Presto!
Hey, Presto!
Nadia Shireen
Jonathan Cape Ltd
ISBN 9781780080024
Presto is a very talented magician, so when he and his friend Monty join a funfair and start a magic show things look good for our duo. But fame goes to Monty's head, and soon Presto loses his friend and his show! Will true friendship prevail? And will there be a touch of magic in the air?
Librarian's Book choiceWhen a debut picture book has been as successful as Good Little Wolf, there is always the slight anxiety about book number two, but in Hey Presto we have another little gem!
Children of this age do seem to get very absorbed and interested by the televised talent shows and so they will really understand the whole concept of fame and showing off your talents, but they will also get the messages about the importance of friendship and team work.
Presto is the little cat with all the magic talent, but his friend Monty is the show off who hogs the limelight and lets fame go to his head at the carnival and thereby risks losing his best friend and his reputation when all the tricks stop working. But friendship wins through in a really heart warming way.
Once again the quirky illustrations are an absolute joy. Not only are the main characters' full range of emotions captured by the smallest line, but we have a carnival full of exotic and amusing performers to pore over. I am particularly enamoured by but slightly worried for Nancy the Amazing Fire-eating Lizard!
This will definitely prove to be another winner with children and the adults who share it with them.
